Her eyes flickered to him. “Do you think we’ll find an arrowhead?”
“Or two. Parrott Island is full of them. I can’t wait for you to see it.” He helped her cross the creek and led her out of the woods.
When they arrived at the dock, Ellie jumped in the boat and made herself comfortable while Jack grabbed the oars.
“How long will it take to get there?”
“An hour, give or take.” Jack untied the lines and pushed off. “You okay with that?”
She leaned back on her hands and faced the sun. “I’ve got all day.”
Jack started the engine and eased away from the dock. When they were a safe distance out, he increased the throttle. The nose pitched up, leveled out, and soon they were gliding effortlessly across the water.
They passed the point where Jack had caught countless striped bass with his grandparents, and Mama Holler where, when he was seven, he’d discovered schools of bream congregated around sunken trees. A little farther up, they motored past the island where he’d taken Ellie the first day they met. From there, the boat moved into uncharted territory, at least for Ellie. Jack had navigated that stretch of water many times, but not since the previous summer and never with a girl.
A little way up, where the channel narrowed, Jack eased back on the throttle. And as they coasted near the shore, something in the distance caught his eye.
“What’s wrong?” Ellie asked as they turned and eased into the shadows.
“There,” he whispered, pointing to a pair of birds hidden among the foliage. “Do you know what those are?”
She shook her head.
“They’re mockingbirds. You can tell by the white on their belly and wings.” He was silent for a moment, careful not to frighten them. “They’re interesting birds. Would you like to hear about them?”
She nodded, transfixed by the pair.
“To protect their territory, mockingbirds mimic the songs of other birds, not to mention insects, amphibians, and mechanical sounds.”
Wonder filled her eyes.
“They’re also excellent hunters, magicians in the air, and they mate for life. Even when they’re apart for seasons at a time, they always find their way back to each other.”
“How?”
“Some think it’s the scent. Others believe they have an internal compass that guides them.”
Ellie pulled her eyes away and looked at Jack. “What do you think?”
He grabbed an oar and pushed off the bank. “I think it has to do with the connection they make when they’re young. Even though life takes them in separate directions, they always feel the need to return to one another. It’s amazing if you think about it.”
“And also kind of sad.” Ellie glanced at the birds a final time. “But I guess that’s life, isn’t it?”
When the birds took to the sky, Jack started the engine and pushed farther upriver. A few miles ahead, a large island covered in tall trees grew out of the water.
Ellie put her palms on the hull and leaned into the wind. “Is that it?”
Jack nodded and maneuvered the boat into position. “Welcome to Parrott Island.” He pointed the bow at a narrow strip of sandy beach. When he got close enough to see the bottom, he jumped out and guided the boat by hand. “It’s peaceful here, isn’t it?”
While Jack secured the boat to a nearby tree, Ellie pushed the sunglasses up into her hair and gazed out at the blue-green water. “It’s beautiful. Thank you for bringing me here.”
“You’re welcome. Of all the islands on the lake, this one is my favorite.”
“How’d you find it?”
“George sends me out exploring sometimes, looking for better places to take the tourists. I just happened upon this place by accident one afternoon and decided to check it out. So what would you like to do first?”
She glanced toward the woods. “How about we go exploring?”
